The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-08
IRELAND AND IT'S PEOPLE
FATHER CAFFERTYS ADDRESS BE-
FORE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.

-
He Reviews the Political and Moral
Aspect of the Country and Tells
What He Saw During His Recent
VISTA Land of Struggling People.
Rev. Father Edward Cafferty spoke be-
fore the Savannah Branch of the Irish
National League last night. His. subject
was his recent visit to ireland, andshe drew
a brighter picture of the condition Of the
people and affairs in the Emerald Isle than
IS supposed by many to exist. Father CAT
ferry left Savannah on the last Of
May and landed at Queenstown
on June 10. The first part
of his talk was descriptive of the physical
conditions of Ireland. He described his
visit to Queenstown and Cork, the beautiful
Lakes Of Killarney, Barney Castle, and
finally Dublin and its wonderful sights.
The most of his address was taken up with
the political and moral aspect of the coun-
try.
CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.
I'VE do not have to look at Ireland as we
were compelled TO formerly through Eng
llsh spectacles," he said thanks to the
press, and we get truer picture of the con-
dltlon of affairs than we did Father
Cafferty said that he was sadly IMPRESSED
with two things which be could not help
noticing as soon a. he landed and during his
entire stay in the country. These were the
absence of trade and commerce, and the
manner i'll which the people are watched
and guarded by military and constabulary.
With few exceptions Ireland has neither
commerce or trade.
HER HARBORS EMPTY.
IIat.h a. g.
modious, Yet there is no shipping in them.
Cork harbor, capable OF sheltering the entire
British fleet, has nothing but few fishing
smacks and the cOastwise schooneTs which
put in their with the mails. He quoted
from statistics showing that during the
eight months of the present year ending
Aug. 81. 62,Ol3 persons. representing the
manhood and womanhOOd of ireland emf
grated to foreign countries. There was no
work for them at home. They must either
emlgrate or starve, and they emigrated.
UNDER CONSTANT GUARD.
The Irish people. Father Cafferty said,
are continually watched. The towns and
cities are full of military, and the police
man Is ubiquitous. Her is every
where. At every railway station
he is striding up and down the
platform, and peers into the carriages
As they pass. In the country every four or
five miles, and at every cross roads, is a neat
little cottage, and over the door is the omi-
nous word "Constabuary. The constabu-
larry has comparatively an easy time of it,
and draws his pay regularly, except when
there Is an eviction, and then he is paid
from the tenants property.
THE COERCION BILL.
1t was while Father Cafferty was in
Ireland that the coercion bill was passed.
The people were nos afraid of it, though, he
said They have had too much coercion to
be frightened at any new acts. In spite of
the cruel and tyranical laws that have
been and are imposed upon them they are
still hopeful and buOyant, and what is more
they are still united. The Irish of to-day are
better eiuc8ksd than they were. They
feel that they are no longer the serfs and
slaves Of bygone days The time was when
the Irish tenant was compelled to vote as
his landlord dictated, but things have
changed greatly within the last decade.
THREATS or THE LANDLORDS.
Now the tenant votes as he pleast,s. and
for whom he pleases. The landlords threat
has no longer any terrors for him. and this
change has been brought about by the Irish
National League, which the English govern
ment is trying 50 hartSto put down.
There are not, jails enough in
Ireland said Father Cafferty, ''to hold the
people who are willing to suffer imprison-
ment rather than renounce the principles of
the league"
The country. too is peaceable and free
from crime, except where it is forced upon
the people by the landlords and the English
government. The faith and piety of the
people has not diminished one bit.
A PEACEABLE PEOPLE.
sit is as true as it ever has been, and can a
people with such faith and such fervent
iotx h #
ting crimes for the mere pleasure there is in
it, or in a spirit of lawleSsness. If crime be
committed it is only after people have been
driven to desperation, and when patience
has ceased to be a virtue
Father Cafferty was followed closely by
an intelligent audience, in which were some
of the best people in the city, and a sprink-
ling of ladies' He was frequently ap-
plauded, and at the close of his address he
was rendered a vote of thanks by the mem
bers of the league.